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How to copy DVDs with DVD Shrink
This guide shows you how to copy a DVD to a blank (single layer, 4.36GB) DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW or DVD+RW disc. The object is to create a high quality backup copy of a personally owned DVD which you can use to play to protect the original from scratching. This guide utlises DVD Shrink, a simple tool that will help you to shrink the size of a DVD-9 disc (dual layer). Additionally, I cover the steps with MenuShrink to reduce the sizes of menu dramatically and burning with Nero Burning Rom (both are optional).
Introduction & Requirements
DVD Shrink - Download and install this tool.
MenuShrink - This is optional so you might not need it. You will see later on.
Nero Burning Rom - Again, this is optional. I use this in the guide to burn but you can use whatever you want.
A dual layer DVD can be up to around 9GB in size (though they usually stick around 7GB). I personally prefer that all files in the VIDEO_TS folder on the original DVD be copied to the HDD, but this isn't fully necessary with DVD Shrink. At the end of the processing we will be have a 4GB+ folder on a Hard Disk Drive so it's safe to say overall you will need at least 10GB for the processing but I recommend using a HDD with a lot of free space for some breathing space.
About Copy Protection and Copyright Law
It is generally accepted in most countries that making backup copies of your personally owned DVDs is acceptable and a wise practise. However, this can sometimes not be the case and making backup copies can be illegal in certain territories. In almost all countries it is illegal for you to copy DVDs that you don't own (like rental DVDs). This guide, as mentioned earlier, is for "backups of your own DVDs for personal use", it is NOT intended to teach people to make pirate copies and neither I, nor AfterDawn Oy can be held responsible if you misuse this information to break local law.
Additionally, in some territories making backup copies is completely legal, but breaking / circumventing copy protection technology is illegal (makes no sense?). In Finland where AfterDawn is based, it is illegal to provide indepth information on breaking copy protection, so we don't in this article. In January 2006, we removed a huge list of software and guides from this site (see list here) to comply with the new laws. If you have a DVD that contains advanced DVD copy protection schemes, you wont find it here. For more info please read: http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/afterdawn_guides_copyright_law.cfm
Anyway, enough of that. This guide assumes that you already have your DVD files ripped to your HDD or alternatively, DVD Shrink will allow you to open and process right from the disc.
Before we begin, What do you really want?
Ok, so this is the big question, what do you want to keep? Do you want a full disc backup including menu's, extra's and the main movie? Keep in mind that the more you want, the less the quality on the output disc will be. Look at these options below.....
1. Keep ONLY Main Movie - If nothing but the main movie matters then congratulations, you are thinking about quality which is important. If you want to do this, then go to page 2 of this guide now: How to copy DVDs (Movie Only) with DVD Shrink
2. Keep Main Movie, Menu's and Extra's - The quality will be lower but this is what this guide set's out to achieve.
3. Keep Main Movie, Dump Some Extras & Shrink Menu's (Recommended) - This is the best option to have in mind if you want more than the main movie. The movie will be fully kept, some extra's may be scrapped (like trailers) and if the Menu's are huge, MenuShrink will be used to convert them to small still Menu's with full functionality.
Please go to the Next Page
On the next page, we take a look at DVD shrink for the first time and show you hope to open a DVD in the program and deal quickly with any errors you may receive with newer DVDs.
This guide shows you how to copy a DVD to a blank (single layer, 4.36GB) DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW or DVD+RW disc. The object is to create a high quality backup copy of a personally owned DVD which you can use to play to protect the original from scratching. This guide utlises DVD Shrink, a simple tool that will help you to shrink the size of a DVD-9 disc (dual layer). Additionally, I cover the steps with MenuShrink to reduce the sizes of menu dramatically and burning with Nero Burning Rom (both are optional).